Can Joe and Beck ever really work? Beck's deepest truths are revealed, and Joe pushes the limits of what he'll do for love.
In 2018, it has become very difficult to keep up with every television show out there. It's even more difficult to provide adequate coverage on this site about the episodes that air every week. Not every show can get full coverage because of my busy and hectic viewing schedule. As such, some reviews will now be condensed to give only some summary thoughts. But it also affords a space for me to jot down my thoughts on the various episodes. And so, here are my thoughts on this week's episode of Lifetime's You.
"Bluebeard's Castle" was written by Sera Gamble & Neil Reynolds and directed by Marcos SiegaJoe and Beck's relationship was always doomed to end in tragedy. There was no way to romanticize them as a couple who could possibly work despite all of the horrible things that Joe has done. He has always presented himself as an ally. He's the type of person who made Beck understand what real and genuine love is. And yes, the argument can be made for him having a positive impact on her life. And yet, he uses that as a weapon in order to control her and reframe the narrative to make him seem like the hero. He views himself as the prince who has come to rescue Beck from her tragic life. He continued to eliminate threats in her life that were keeping her from achieving her ultimate goals. In the end, she does become a published author. The story that makes her famous is all about Joe and the twisted relationship that they have. But it's also a piece of work written under duress when she is a captive of his. Moreover, he reworks the novel completely before sending it on to Blythe in the hopes of honoring Beck in death. He still views that as an act of love. Even though she couldn't understand him in the end, he still feels compelled to honor her in this way. Of course, this hour further highlights how messed up and tragic Joe's entire life has been. He is trying to do to Beck what Mr. Mooney always did to him. That relationship was always toxic and tragic as well. But it also became clear that Joe couldn't make Beck learn the same lessons he did as a teenager. Instead, Paco was the one with the most impressionable mind. He is the most vulnerable character throughout this entire story. He's the person Joe has nothing but unconditional love for. He isn't stalking Paco's life either. It's not romantic love. It's the hope of being able to pass down this appreciation and code to another generation. Mooney passed it down to Joe. And now, Joe is doing the same to Paco. He is completely fine justifying murder if it's done for someone he loves. Joe kills Ron because he threatened to kill Paco. The kid was trying to stand up for his mom and Joe was pushed into reacting. However, Joe confronting Claudia in the hospital is also just as telling because Joe has no sense of empathy for anyone in the world. He thinks the relationship she has with Ron is so black-and-white. He sees himself as the only person looking out for Paco. That's simply not true at all. And yet, it's because of those delusions that Paco thinks it's more than okay to leave Beck with Joe even though she is pleading for his help. He knows Beck as well. Beck understands that Paco means a great deal to Joe. But here, Paco and Claudia escape to a better life. They have that opportunity with Joe trying to teach Paco about forgetting the past. Beck can't have that same luxury because a sinister individual decided to fall in love with her. He wants her to have some introspection about her life now that she's trapped in this box. But the urge to escape is always present for her. And yes, she does make a fatal error in not keeping the keys to unlock the door at the top of the stairs. That leads to a full-on, physical fight between the two. It's a fight that leads to her death and Joe being able to frame Dr. Nicky for everything that happened this season. It's so absolutely horrifying to see him get away with everything. He remains the guy in the bookstore that no one has any concerns about. He is back to looking at women and trying to understand the messages they are sending because of the outfits they are wearing. But the cliffhanger is also very clever and intriguing because it brings Candace back into the picture. She has long been presumed dead. But now, she's back and is bound to continue carrying a lot of consequences that Joe can't run away from forever.
